Ministry drafts decision to regulate delivery motorbikes

The ministry told Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee that it is working with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the General Directorate of Traffic on a decision to bring delivery work within land transport.

The move comes as a proposal led by MP Mohammed Janahi asks the government to stop issuing new permits for motorbikes used in delivery work until a full rulebook is in place for road safety, rider training, vehicle standards and the fast-growing trade.

MPs behind the proposal said the sharp growth of delivery services in recent years had drawn individuals and firms into the market without enough training or proper safety gear. They said a temporary pause on new permits would give the relevant bodies time to draw up binding technical, professional and traffic rules.

The explanatory note says the delivery market has reached saturation point, with too many motorbikes working in the field and weighing on traffic flow.

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications told the committee that, under ministerial decisions now in force for public transport work, delivery services do not fall within the remit of its land transport sector.

It said the draft decision under study would deal with that gap by bringing delivery work into the land transport system.